“It’s high time Virginians felt the benefits of harnessing our state’s vast energy resources,” Morin said in a release posted on the American Petroleum Institute's website. “(Safe) and responsible energy development off the coast of Virginia would bring millions, and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs to the commonwealth.”

On behalf of the council, Morin expressed full support for offshore development over the next five years, noting the advantages of Virginia’s existing shoreline operations and cautioning against the risks of excluding Virginia from potential development.

“The existing Hampton Roads port has the infrastructure, skilled workers and maritime industries like shipbuilding and engineering that can benefit Virginia consumers and workers, help strengthen our national security and provide the American energy our nation demands,” Morin said in the release.

Morin’s statement paralleled expressions of support for regional offshore oil and gas development from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association.

VPC joined dozens of other groups in signing a letter addressed to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management urging efforts to increase development of offshore oil and natural gas resources.

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